Morning journal and courier., 1887-11-04
THE ANARCHISTS LOSING HEART.

THE ANARCHISTS LOSING HEART.
 Several of Them Already Sign the
 Petition for Amnesty-Captain Black Scofs at the Idea of suicide.
 CHICAGO, Nov. 3.-The event at the county
 jail this morning was conference of nearly
 half an hour between Captain Black, L. S.
 Oliver and the seven doomed anarchists.
 Captain Black refused to make public the
 matter under discussion. He said that he expected to leave for Springfield with the petition of amnesty on Monday night. To the inquiry whether he hoped for clemency he replied: 'I am always hopeful man. I will hope until there is no longer ground for it, when there can only be grief for the seven men murdered by the law.''
 'There has been good deal of talk about the possibility of suicide by these men. What do you think of it?" "They could not be hired to take their own lives Not man of them would do so. If they wished to do so nothing would be easier. But I tell you that if their cells were filled with deadly weapons and they had poisons more dreamy and them. They are not common scoundrels who would try to cheat the gallows There is no ignominy in the scaffold for them. If they must die they would prefer to be strangled by the organized robbery they sought to overthrow than to sink out of the world like cowards.'
 It has been suggested by several prominent attorneys that the defense, for the purpose of delay If nothing else, could apply for writ Ia lunafioO En d0fa 4bo, tai condition of the seven. Captain Black was asked his view on the new point He said: 'fIt might be done, but the brave fel- lows over there would never consent to it. I would not give it second thought
 August Spies, Samuel Fielden and Nicholas Schwab signed a petition this afternoon humbly begging the Governor to commute their sentences. These three of the seven are the only ones who have not written let ters to the Governor that they would not ac- cept communication of sentence and that all efforts in that direction were without their sanction. The signatures of Fielden and Sehwab were secured this morning by Cap- tain Black and L. S. Oliver, who visited the prisoners at the jail and had private confer ences with them. All sorts of entreaties were adopted to get Spies to sign the peti- tion, but he resolutely refused to do so, as did Lingg, Engel, Fisher and Parsons. At 3:30 the same petitions were brought to the jail by Dr. Schmidt, Alderman Frank Staub- Der and H. Linnemeyer with permission from the sheriff to confer with the condemned men. George Schilling arrived later and joined the party. It was plain that Spies had weakened since the morning confer ence. He read the petition over several times. After an hours pleading Spies said. "Well, give me pen," and with a flourish his name was appended below. The visitors then turned their attention to the others who have written letters declining executive elem ency. George SchilIing talked long and earnestly with Parsons, but seemed to make no impression upon him. Lingg absolutely refused to consider the topic. He and Engel talked together and frequently smiled Fischer seemed to be in doubt as to what he should do. Frank Staubber paid him special attention and occasionally patted him on the back in an encouraging way, but he did not relent from the position which he had previ- ously taken. It is understood that there were three petitions submitted each differ. ently worded. One was signed by Spies, Fielden and Schwab, but none of them suited the other four. The party promised to call again to morrow and renew their application. George Francis Train sent seven packages of fruit to the condemned men to-day with $5 note attached to each.
 Mrs. Lucy Parsons, wife of the condemned anarchist, created sensation today by ap- bearing on the street and selling the pam phlets entitled Was it fair trial!' for five cents each. She had her arms full of the documents and soon she was surrounded by a big crowd which completely blocked the streets. In vain the car drivers rang their bells and hundred teamsters yelled their congratulations. Finally couple of officers took Mrs. Parsons before Chief Ebersaldt, who decided that Mrs. Parsons had the same right to sell her books that other vendors of literature had and said that she might con- tinue as long as she pleased, provided she did not blockade the sidewalks and streets. Ac eordingly on getting fresh supply of books she walked briskly down the street to the postoffice, handing out books faster than she could make change. On gaining the steps of the government building she once more was surrounded by large crowd and was told by 8 deputy marshal to move on. She obeyed and continued to walk through the streets until she was completely exhausted. In the few hours she was out she sold nearly five thousand copies of the book at five cents per copy.